This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
It's an unusually quiet night in the NHL on Thursday. While there are just six games, every contest has playoff implications, and only the Coyotes are already out of the race.
In the Eastern Conference, there are nine teams bunched between 72 and 62 points, and both the Atlantic Division and the final wild-card spot are wide open. The Western Conference isn't as condensed, and the Pacific Division appears to have its top-three seeds established. However, the high-powered Central Division and both wild-card spots will be up for grabs with five teams grouped between 67 and 62 points.
Buckle up, the stretch drive is ahead, and games will begin to take on a playoff atmosphere sooner than later.
Featured Matchups
Rangers (PP: 15, PK: 13) at Maple Leafs (PP: 1, PK: 8), 7:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Henrik Lundqvist (27-14-2, 2.63, .912), Frederik Andersen (24-13-10, 2.81, .913)
Key Injuries:Connor Carrick (upper body), Mitch Marner (upper body)
New York snapped a three-game losing streak Jan. 19 with a win over Toronto, and the Rangers have gone 10-3-1 since. The Blueshirts have scored the third-most goals per game (3.32) while generating the second-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (12.37). Toronto is nearly as potent with an average of 3.14 goals per game and 12.37 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes, which rank sixth and third, respectively. With Toronto allowing the third-most scoring chances (29.85), and the Rangers surrendering the sixth-most high-danger scoring chances (11.61), there should be oodles of offense in this matchup.
With a regular chance to play, Josh Leivo has caught fire of late, and is an intriguing grab in deep leagues. Despite averaging just 13:52 of ice time (2:00 with the man advantage), he's posted three multi-point games for a goal and seven assists through five outings. Additionally, after posting 48 points through 51 games in the AHL last season, there offensive track record is there. It'll be interesting to see how the Leafs fare against a recently shining Lundqvist. During New York's strong 14-game stretch, he's posted a 9-2-1 record with a solid .936 save percentage and 2.00 GAA.
Flames (PP: 12, PK: 16) at Lightning (PP: 7, PK: 15), 7:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Brian Elliott (13-13-3, 2.83, .895), Ben Bishop (16-12-3, 2.55, .911)
Key Injuries:Ladislav Smid (neck), Ryan Callahan (hip), Jonathan Drouin (undisclosed), Steven Stamkos (knee)
Currently four points out of a playoff spot, Tampa Bay has turned it around of late with a 5-0-2 record, and Stamkos (knee) has resumed skating. Bishop has also caught fire with five consecutive wins, a .953 save percentage and 1.17 GAA. Tampa Bay still has some question marks on the blue line, but is ranked fourth in five-on-five adjusted Corsi For percentage through the past 25 games. Look out Eastern Conference, the Bolts might not go gentle into that good night.
Interestingly, Calgary ranks third in five-on-five adjusted Corsi For percentage during the 25-game span. The Flames have an active 6-2-1 stretch and currently own the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. If there is a buy-low window in keeper/dynasty settings open for Matthew Tkachuk, pounce. The freshman has 27 points -- albeit only five goals -- through his past 30 games with exceptional peripheral statistics (57 shots, 45 PIM, 33 hits with a plus-7 rating). He projects to be a cross-category star for years to come, and players who tilt the scales across multiple statistics are becoming rarer by the season.
Bruins (PP: 13, PK: 1) at Kings (PP: 23, PK: 6), 10:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Anton Khudobin (2-5-1, 3.05, .888), Peter Budaj (27-19-3, 2.12, .917)
Key Injuries:Austin Czarnik (lower body), Matt Greene (undisclosed), Jordan Nolan (lower body), Jonathan Quick (groin)
The Bruins are the lone club entering Thursday's action on the second leg of a back-to-back set after Boston suffered a 5-3 loss to Anaheim on Wednesday. It was Boston's first loss under new bench boss Bruce Cassidy. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is 4-5 in February. Additionally, both teams are currently sitting outside of the playoffs and are in the thick of it to earn their ticket to the spring dance. What's most interesting about this matchup is that Boston and Los Angeles rank first and second in Corsi For percentage and scoring chances per 60 minutes allowed.
Jonathan Quick's (groin) pending return could quickly end the stellar fantasy run Budaj has been on, so fantasy owners will want to monitor that situation. Additionally, it's worth highlighting the uptick in offensive production from Frank Vatrano. The 22-year-old forward has three goals and six points through his past four games, and after posting 38 goals and 57 points over his past 38 AHL games, Vatrano is clearly a capable scorer. He's worth a look in deep seasonal leagues and daily contests when Boston faces a favorable opponent.
Other Matchups
Islanders (PP: 25, PK: 23) at Canadiens (PP: 9, PK: 22), 7:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Thomas Greiss (19-11-3, 2.50, .918), Carey Price (25-15-5, 2.44, .918)
Key Injuries:Casey Cizikas (upper body), Cal Clutterbuck (lower body), Travis Hamonic (knee), Shane Prince (upper body)
The Habs enter with an active 5-9-2 record, and Price owns a mediocre .912 save percentage and 2.69 GAA during the stretch. Alex Galchenyuk's three points -- one goal -- through nine games since returning from his aggravated knee injury is also a problem. Goaltending hasn't been a significant issue for the Islanders, as despite allowing the second-most scoring chances per 60 minutes (31.74), Greiss has been solid most nights. Still, with New York sporting a disastrous 8-13-4 road record, Montreal should win its second straight game Thursday.
Avalanche (PP: 29, PK: 24) at Predators (PP: 16, PK: 12), 8:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Calvin Pickard (10-19-2, 2.88, .909), Pekka Rinne (22-15-6, 2.50, .916)
Key Injuries:Rene Bourque (head), Erik Johnson (leg), Semyon Varlamov (groin), Nikita Zadorov (ankle)
This is a soft matchup for Nashville, and it's likely the Predators are popular targets in daily contests Thursday. Over his past 12 games, Calle Jarnkrok has an impressive six goals, 11 points and 27 shots while averaging 12:40 of ice time. He's worth a look in deep seasonal leagues. Additionally, with the Predators allowing the fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (8.71), there is little incentive to turn to the Avalanche. Currently in a playoff spot, Nashville is a team to watch over the coming weeks because it's not out of the question to suggest the Predators are just hitting stride and the best is still ahead.
Coyotes (PP: 27, PK: 26) at Blackhawks (PP: 17, PK: 28), 8:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Mike Smith (16-16-6, 2.84, .918), Corey Crawford (23-13-3, 2.57, .917)
Key Injuries:Lawson Crouse (lower body), Brad Richardson (leg)
The Coyotes allow the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (14.59) on the road. Chicago has a single loss in February (7-1) and boasts an impressive 18-8-4 at home. The Blackhawks have also relied more on their offense with Crawford sporting a mediocre .912 save percentage and 2.67 GAA this month. While the usual stars have led the way, don't overlook Nick Schmaltz. The freshman has two goals and seven points with a plus-11 rating through his past six games and has thrived alongside Jonathan Toews at five-on-five. Don't fret fading the Coyotes Thursday, the Blackhawks have already topped Arizona twice this season by a combined score of 8-3.
Recommended Pickup
Nick Ritchie, F, ANA: The power forward has marked the assist column four times in the past three games and is clicking alongside Ryan Getzlaf. Ritchie also brings admirable peripheral contributions with 2.02 shots and 3.25 hits per game, and his 37 PIM also help. As long as Ritchie sticks with Getzlaf, the rookie is a solid option in deep seasonal settings, and a strong finish leading into the playoffs is within reach. After all, Getzlaf boasts a fifth-ranked 2.31 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five among all players with at least 4,000 minutes through the past four seasons.
